"A WEEK, madam? Never say so!"
"'Tis as true as I stand here. And a nice fright you have given us, what with nearly dying, and raving about your Dicks and your Jims!"
My lord glanced up sharply.
"Oh! So I-talked?"
"Talk? Well, yes, if you can call all that mixture of foreign jargon talking. Now you must be still and wait till the doctor comes again."
For a while Carstares lay in silence. He thought of Jim and smiled a little. "I could not have thought of a better punishment had I tried," he told himself, and then frowned. "Poor fellow! He'll be off his head with fright over me. Miss-er-Betty?"
"Well, and are you not asleep yet?"
"Asleep, Madam? Certainly not!" he said with dignity. "I must write a letter."
"'Deed, an' you shall not!"
"But I must! 'Tis monstrous important, madam."
She shook her head resolutely.
"Not until Mr. Jameson gives permission," she said firmly.
Jack struggled up, biting his lip.
"Then I shall get up!" he threatened.
In an instant she was by his side.
"No, no! Now lie down and be good!"
"I will not lie down and be good!"
"Then I shan't let you touch a pen for weeks!"
Jack became very masterful and frowned direfully upon her.
"Madam, I insist on being allowed to write that letter!"
"Sir, I insist on your lying down!"
He controlled a twitching lip.
"Woe betide you unless you bring me pen and paper, Miss Betty!"
"But, dear boy, reflect! You could not use your arm."
"I will use it!" replied Jack indomitably, but he sank back on to the pillows with his eyes closed and a tiny furrow of pain between his straight brows.
"I told you so!" scolded Miss Betty, not without a note of triumph in her voice, and proceeded to rearrange the disorderly coverlet.
The blue eyes opened wide, pleadingly.
"Madam, indeed 'tis very important."
She could not withstand that look.
"Well," she compromised, "I'll not let you write yourself, that's certain-but could you not dictate to me?"
Jack brightened, and caught her hand to his lips.
"Miss Betty, you are an angel!" he told her.
"Ah now, get along with you!" She hurried away to fetch paper and ink.
When she returned she found him plucking impatiently at the sheet, and frowning.
"I am ready," she said.
"Thank you, madam. 'Tis very kind in you-"
"Nonsense!"
He laughed weakly.
"I want you to write to my servant, to bid him bring my baggage to the nearest inn-"
"That will I not! I shall tell him to bring it here."
"But, Miss Betty, I cannot possibly trespass upon-"